Oddcast episode
Coming Back for More, Part VI: The Roots of Christian Reincarnationism
We set the stage for a detailed consideration of the evidence for early Christian reincarnationism. Featuring the Bible.
Recently posted
Podcast episode
Episode 82: I Got Soul, And I’m Super Bad: Basilides of Alexandria
Basilides of Alexandria, one of the first Christian philosophers and scriptural exegetes, is known as one of the great Gnostic heresiarchs of the second century. But what did he actually teach? It's mind-blowing and it's esoteric.
Oddcast episode
Jason Ānanda Josephson-Storm on James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, and Western Esotericism
Jason Josephson-Storm returns to the SHWEP to discuss one of the most influential thinkers on modern western esoteric movements – Sir James George Frazer, author of The Golden Bough – and where, precisely, J.G.F. might fit within western esotericism itself.
Oddcast episode
Coming Back for More, Part V: Sami Yli-Karjanmaa on Reincarnation in Philo and Josephus
We dive deeper into the evidence for Jewish reincarnation around the time of the Temple's destruction with Sami Yli-Karjanmaa, who has done the work. Philo of Alexandria and Josephus come under the metempsychotoscope.
Roots of Magic episode
Gideon Bohak on the Pishra de-Rabbi Ḥanina Ben Dosa
We discuss a fascinating text of all-purpose protective and apotropaic magic with a history spanning millennia with the inimitable Gideon Bohak. Attributed to a first-century rabbi, the Pishra may have its roots in late-antique Babylonia, but it was still being copied into the twentieth century, and, who knows? perhaps today.
Podcast episode
Episode 211: Introducing the Apocalypse of the Pseudo-Methodios, with Christopher Bonura
Christopher Bonura introduces us to the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodios, a seventh-century Syriac prophetic universal history. Come for the Arab conquests reflected in Christian revelation, stay for the apocalyptic Roman emperor.
Listen to the Introduction
An introduction to the podcast, discussing briefly what we mean by ‘western esotericism’. This episode also answers the burning question, ‘What’s so “secret” about The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast?’ and features a short quiz to test your knowledge of western esoteric history.
Become a Member
SHWEP is an experiment in community-supported scholarship. Join now for less than one pound per week to get access to special member-only podcast episodes, take part in online discussions about each episode and help ensure the future of this unique listener-supported project
Already a member? Log in here
Subscribe by email
Get notified by email each time a new episode of the podcast or oddcast is published
